Varicose veins are caused by weakened valves in the veins. When the valves do not work correctly, blood collects in the legs and pressure builds up. The veins become weak, large, and twisted.
Varicose veins are a sign of venous deficiency. The veins fail to adequately circulate blood from the legs back to the heart. But this circulatory problem can be treated through self-care measures, or by a doctor for more serious cases. There is a treatment for varicose veins that is painless.
A common misconception is that most
people worry about varicose veins because they’re vain. The bulging varicose
veins are both a cosmetic and health issue. For some self-conscious individuals,
they are nothing more than ugly. Others experience pain and discomfort in the
legs. Here are five things you should know about varicose veins, and what it means:
1.
Exercise is a good way to avoid vein issues: As with pregnancy, any excess weight in the abdomen area
can lead to varicose vein development. Maintaining a healthy weight is one way
to keep them away, and exercise is important to that. Being active improves
circulation, which can aid the blood going back up to the heart rather than
pooling in the vein.
Any exercises that get your blood moving (including walking,
swimming and using the stairs) will suffice. You can sneak in a simple exercise
anytime, anywhere by raising yourself up on the balls of your feet and then
lowering to strengthen your calf muscles.
2.
It is primarily genetic: Vein disease is mainly hereditary. It accounts for nearly
80 percent of all cases. If one parent has varicose veins, the likelihood of
their children having them is about 40 percent.
If both parents have them, the likelihood increases to 90
percent. While it’s most commonly seen in women, men can get it, too, which
means it can come from parents.
3.
Pregnancy can cause varicose veins: The growing fetus can put increasing amounts of pressure
on the inferior vena cava, the vein that drains blood from the lower limbs.
Pregnancy also causes an excess production of hormones, which in turn causes
the smooth muscle of the veins to relax, which increases the tendency for them
to enlarge.
The good news is that they tend to improve within a year of
giving birth if you didn’t have them prior to pregnancy. Women are more
susceptible to varicose veins in pregnancy and as they get older.
4.
Varicose veins are different from spider veins: Many people use these two terms interchangeably without
knowing there is a difference between the two conditions. Varicose veins are
the gnarled, protruding veins that have stretched out due to blood pooling
rather than being sent back up to the heart.
Spider veins are smaller, purplish-colored veins that are
seen beneath the skin, which tend to be less serious than varicose veins. It
could be a sign of poor circulation. Have your doctor check if you have either
type.
5.
Varicose veins are superficial veins: Did you know you don’t actually need the veins that become
varicose veins? While this may sound hard to believe, the veins that turn into
varicose veins are part of the superficial vein system, which aren’t vital to
your body’s circulatory system. This is what makes treatment less invasive, and
won’t damage the blood flow to your heart.
“I’d love to have varicose vein Barbie. She
comes complete with a little purple Sharpie so you can draw on her legs, and
have matching spider veins. (Compression hose sold separately, of course.) “(Sally Baucke, author of What Didn’t Kill Me Made Me Funny)[i]
[i] Sources used:
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